Waterbury evening Democrat., 1887-12-30
ALMOND EYED YANKEES
OUR JAPANESE BUSINESS MEN AND
 THEIR THRIFTY WAYS.

Americanized Japs and Their Occupa-
 tions-Essentially Home Loving Peo-
 ple-Japanese Business Houses in This
 Country-In a Wholesale Store.
 ssHas it occurred to you" said gentleman to reporter, as couple of Japanese gen tlemen walked up Broadway with their characteristic rapid stride, 'sthat among all the nations represented on American soil it anese that not one has been convicted of a great criminal offense in an American court?'
 The reporter was unable to state to the contrary, and a cursory examination show; that save an occasional misdemeanor result ing from undue familiarity with John Bar leycorll, and confined chiefly to the Japanese sailors who now and then visit the Pacific coast, the page is clean whereon may be written any transgression of the law It is true that there are comparatively few in the country, probably not more than 500 or 500, but these stand out in such sharp contrast with the Chinese as to command unqualified respect.
 Since the expedition of Commodore Perry in 1853, undertaken for the purpose of estab- fishing friendly and commercial relations with hitherto comparatively unknown em- pire, the Japanese have bee. Iemarable in their eagerness to break down all the ancient barriers by which they were restrained at home and adapt themselves to the manners and customs of western civilization. In New York they constitute little colony of their own, but they live in elegantly furnished houses, dress with taste indicative of the utmost refinement, are enterprising in busi- ness and in every respect model American citizens They arc either merchants engaged ill the importation and sale of raw silk, tea, lacquer work and Japanese bric-a-brac, or are students in some of our colleges prepar- ing to introduce our arts and sciences at home, or they occupy official government po- sitions, in imitation of American customs They have cozy club room, where they as- semble after the cares of the day to inter change views, and there is not 8 more exclu- sive body of gentlemen in the city.
 JAPANESE PEcULIARITIEs.
 Keenness of observation is one of the pecu- liarities of the Japanese> Having started in the race, it IS their ambition to keep abreast of the progress of civilization, and hence you will find them patrons of the best literary, mechanical, railway and agricultural maga- zines, and eager to learn everything but American politics. On practical subjects they are better posted than the majority of our own people. Another peculiarity is that the nation is more homogeneous than even the Germans and hence you find Q kind of paternal supervision exercised over them by the consuls who represent their government. Each member of the little family in the United States is known at official headqEar- ters, and by glance at a carefully kepJ rec ord of addresses one may learn the where abouts of any of the permanently located Japanese in the country For instance, one is in Cornell studying physics, another in Harvard in tho law class, a third in Chicago pondering over the intricacies of the railway system, a fourth in Iowa studying the sci ence of agriculture, and so on. Nor do these energetic people come here unprepared. Be- fore leaving Japan they had already ac- quired the rudiments of education and laid the foundation for the higher knowledge which they intend to mako available in their own country.
 A reporter in making inquiries, learned of a Japanese gentleman that it was much easier for an American to learn the Japanese tongue than for a Japanese to master the English. Although" he continued, ''our alphabet is not unlike the English in sound. It contains forty-eight letters, and these en- able us to pronounce with moro or less ac- curacy any of the languages of civilization.
 
 the Chinese character, the two languages having become somewhat intermixed, but we are trying to remove the Chinese character istics, and in the hope to have form of writ ten and spoken speech that will be distinc- lively our own"
 ''Why is it," continued the reporter, s'that we see so few of tho working people-the laboring classes from your country?"
 "I presume" was the reply, ' it is because they find abundant employment at home Besides, it is contrary to our public policy to foster pronliscuous legislation such as you have in America. Our people are essentially home loving. Although there are number of Japanese sailors who como to San Fran cisco and other ports-and am proud to say they are regarded as tho most efficient sailors in the world-they seem to prefer their own country, and it certainly is beautiful and att tractive because it is ancient, highly culGi- vated, rich in scenery and works of archi- lecture that are the wonder of travellers, and, more than all, productive of everything that supports life and gives content"
 BUSINESS HOUSES
 "How many business houses are there in this countrys' asked the reporter.
 ''I cannot accurately tell, but in this city there are two or three establishments, branches of the Doshin Silk company and the Nipon Mercantile company and several firms engaged in the importation of por- celain, lacquer work, fancy goods, toys and other articles of Japanese manufacture. There are also Japanese houses in Boston, Philadelphia, San Francisco and many places where our merchandise is sold by Americans or foreigners who have their representatives in Japan"
 An hour spent in Japanese wholesale store is as interesting as visit to museum. The clerks in attendance are young men, usually under 30 years of age, and with rare politeness and almost womanly gentle ness seem to take pleasure in describing the various articles of use or virtu in the estab- lishment. They never press anything upon an unwilling customer The shelves and counters are crowded with objects novel in color, form and construction, illustrating the skill of the makers, and everything is arranged with tastefulness and eye to effect that is simply superb"
 Judging from appearances, the Japanese have come to stay," said the reporter at the end of his interview.
 ''Yes," was the soft voiced reply of the brown faced little gentleman. "We admire Americans and their country. But for them we should probably not be here today, or have changed our customs or adopted so many of the improvements of the western world that have promoted our prosperity as q nation.-New York Star.